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Mobilize for action against sexually transmitted infections

AIDS 2024 Pre-Conference

Sunday, 21 July 2024 | 08:00 – 16:30

In partnership with the International AIDS Society (IAS) and the International Union Against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI), WHO is organizing this pre-conference on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim of the pre-conference is to mobilize advocacy efforts in support of a more effective global STI response by bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders – including civil society, community leaders, researchers, students, public health and clinical experts, program managers, policy makers and funders – to control STIs and achieve the goal of ending STI epidemics by 2030. The meeting will serve as a platform to highlight the importance of STIs in the broader context of global health and the global HIV response, cultivate new collaborations and mobilize advocacy efforts in support of a more effective global response.

The meeting will serve as a platform to highlight the importance of STIs in the broader context of global health and the global HIV response, and will build on the momentum of the first forum in Berlin, Germany, following the World Health Summit 2023. Participants will have the opportunity to share knowledge and perspectives on three critical accelerators – increasing political commitment, accelerating innovation and strengthening community mobilization – all of which are considered necessary to effectively control STIs and achieve the 2030 global goals.

Location

Munich, Germany, Munich Messe, Room 1/Channel 2

participation

Separate registration for this hybrid event is not required, however in-person or virtual participation is only available to those who are registered for the AIDS 2024 conference or have purchased a pre-conference pass. Registered participants will have online access to all pre-conference sessions streamed live on the virtual conference platform, as well as access to recordings of the pre-conference sessions. More information on registration

For virtual participation, this pre-conference will be streamed live on channel 2 of the AIDS 2024 virtual platform. Online program for all pre-conferences

agenda

Why sexually transmitted diseases matter: findings from WHO, IAS and IUSTI
Session 1 | 08:00 – 09:00

This opening session will provide key insights into the global impact of STIs and present expert opinions from leading health organizations. The session will also include an update on new developments in STIs, including the latest WHO guidelines on STIs, and current topics such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), STIs in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services, and the use of AI.

Chair: Meg Doherty, Director of WHO Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, HHS | Co-Chair: Teodora Wi, STIs Team Leader, WHO Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programs, HHS

Why sexually transmitted diseases matter: findings from WHO, IAS and IUSTI

Welcome and perspective from WHO – Meg Doherty

IAS Perspective – Andrew Grulich

IUSTI Perspective – Janet Wilson

What’s new in STIs? Important technical updates

Introducing the WHO STI M&E framework – Jane Rowley (WHO)

WHO STI guidelines – Teodora Wi (WHO)

AMR in sexually transmitted diseases – Magnus Unemo (Örebro University, Sweden)

Linking STIs to adolescent health services (PrEP and PHC) – Saiqa Mullick (WITS RHI, South Africa)

Case management for AI and sexually transmitted diseases – Eric Chow (IUSTI)

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Accelerating innovation: What is new and what is needed in the field of STIs?
Session 2 | 09:30 – 11:00

This session will focus on innovation, which is seen as a key accelerator of change to effectively combat STIs. This will include the launch of the WHO Global STI Research Agenda and a series of speakers discussing new developments in prevention, diagnostics and treatment. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the critical next steps to promote and adopt STI innovation.

Chair: Eric Chow (IUSTI) | Co-Chair: Remco Peters (WHO)

Launch of the WHO global STI research agenda

Sami Gottlieb (WHO)

What’s new in STIs? Prevention, diagnosis and treatment

  • Development and implementation of STI point-of-care testing: what lies ahead? – Barbara Van Der Pol (University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA)
  • How far are we in treating new sexually transmitted diseases? Focus on syphilis – Lori Newman (The Gates Foundation)
  • Where are we in the treatment of new sexually transmitted diseases? Focus on gonorrhea – Alison Luckey (Global Antimicrobic Research & Development Partnership, GARDP)
  • Is a vaccine against gonorrhea imminent? How far are we with a vaccine against chlamydia and therapeutic vaccines against HSV? – Carolyn Deal (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA)
  • Condom innovation – what’s new in interventions to support the use of one of the earliest multipurpose prevention technologies? – Chris Jones (Mann Global Health, USA)

Accelerating innovation: driving the global STI innovation agenda

Framework session: Barbara Van Der Pol (University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA)

Panel discussion

Panelists:

  • Sanele Ngulube (Pangaea Zimbabwe)
  • Alison Footman (AVAC)
  • Angelica Miranda (Ministry of Health, Brazil)
  • Laura Bachmann (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA)
  • Anisa Ghadrshenas (Unitaid)

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Strengthening community mobilization: Empowering communities to lead STI advocacy and service delivery
Session 3 | 11:30 – 12:30

This session will feature a panel discussion on the second key accelerator: community mobilization. To effectively address the complexity of STI challenges, community mobilization is critical. It requires meaningful engagement and empowerment of diverse stakeholders.

Chair: Andy Seale (WHO) | Co-Chair: Marlene Bras (IAS)

Strengthening community mobilization: Empowering communities to lead STI advocacy and service delivery

Panel discussion

Framework session: Midnight Poonkasetwattana (APCOM, Thailand)

Panelists:

  • Simon Ondiek (Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kenya)
  • Joseph Murungu (Pangaea, Zimbabwe)
  • Mercy Luwi Katoka (FHI 360, Zambia)
  • Bonnie Wong (Ministry of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
  • Mitchell Warren (AVAC)
  • Bidia Deperthes (UNFPA)

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The future of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs)
Session 4: 13:30 – 14:30

This session will explore the future of STIs, followed by a debate on the role of DoxyPEP in STI prevention and control.

Chair: Teodora Wi, STI Team Leader, WHO Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, HHS | Co-Chair: Ben Plumley (Hunuvata, USA)

The future of STI control

Keynote session – Jeanne Marrazzo (Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA)

The DoxyPEP debate: DoxyPEP or not DoxyPEP?

Framework session: Nicholas Medland (Kirby Institute, Australia)

Debate:

  • Philip Chan (Rhode Island Department of Health, USA)
  • Henry de Vries (University of Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Return message:

  • Henry Muzuwandile (Key Population Consortium, Zambia)
  • Nikolay Lunchenkov (ECOM, Estonia)
  • Horse Maple Kittiyaowamarn (Ministry of Health, Thailand)

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Towards 2030 – Increasing political commitment to STIs
Session 5 | 15:00 – 16:30

This session will feature a panel discussion on the third critical accelerator: political commitment. This is a fundamental element as effective STI control requires adequate financing, cross-sectoral strategies and dedicated programmes. This closing session will also provide key insights on how to move forward towards the 2030 goals and highlight key STI-related sessions at AIDS 2024.

Chair: Birgit Poniatowski, Managing Director, IAS| Co-Chair: Meg Doherty (WHO)

Five pleasure tips to reduce sexually transmitted diseases

Rhiana Mills (The Pleasure Project, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Strengthening political commitment: building support and investment for STIs

Panel discussion

Framework session: Nicola Low (University of Bern, Switzerland)

Panelists:

  • Hon. Esteban Paulón (UNITE Global Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, Argentina)
  • Julia del Amo Valero (Ministry of Health, Spain)
  • Jonathan Mermin (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA)
  • Siobhan Crowley (The Global Fund)
  • Ru Cheng (Gates Foundation)
  • Florence Riako Anam (Global Network of People Living with HIV, GNP+)

Closing session: Towards 2030 and highlights for AIDS 2024

Ines Perea (Federal Ministry of Health)

Jérôme Salomon (WHO, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases)

Beatriz Grinsztejn (future IAS President)

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